[Restless legs syndrome. Features and impact on sleep]

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic neurological disorder that has a negtive influence on sleep. We describe clinical spectrum, polysomnogram and impact on sleep of patients' series with RLS.

We studied 49 patients with RLS. We analyse socio- demographic information, clinical features, therapy and impact on sleep. We realized differents questionnaire: Index of Severity of Sleep, Epworth Scale, Index-RLS, Questionnaire Quality of Life-RLS and Questionnaire from limitation of laboral productivity.

Mean age is 60.33+/-14.27 with similar distribution enter gender. They presented a positive family history in 36,73% with predominant in early onset of symptoms. Secondary causes more frequent associated were rheumatoid arthritis, iron-deficiency, uremia, pregnancy and polineuropathy. Significative prevalence of insomnia (73,43%) and periodic limb movement disorder (51,02%), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (22,45%) and hipersomnia (22,45 %). Pharmacological treatment more used were dopaminergic drugs. We didn't find significant stadistic differences enter clinical feature and therapy, so tendency to better quality of life with dopaminergic drugs.

It's an neurological disorder with important delay in diagnosis. Early detection is needed because important impact on sleep efficiency and quality of life, and improvement with therapy, solely dopaminergic drugs.